CHRONOLOGY

ca. 400,000 BP

  • Homo sapiens evolve in Africa.

    • ca. 25,000–14,000 BP

  • Glaciation exposes Beringia land bridge.

    • ca. 15,000 BP

  • Humans arrive in North America.

    • ca. 13,500–13,000 BP

  • Paleo-Indians use Clovis points.

    • ca. 11,000 BP

  • Mammoths become extinct.

    • ca. 10,000–3000 BP

  • Archaic hunter-gatherer cultures dominate ancient America.

    • ca. 5000 BP

  • Chumash culture emerges in southern California.

    • ca. 4000 BP

  • Eastern Woodland peoples grow gourds, make pottery.

    • ca. 3500 BP

  • Southwestern cultures cultivate corn.

    • ca. 2500 BP

  • Eastern Woodland cultures build burial mounds, cultivate corn.

    • ca. 2500–2100 BP

  • Adena culture develops in Ohio.

    • ca. 2100 BP–AD 400

  • Hopewell culture emerges in Ohio and Mississippi valleys.

    • ca. AD 200–900

  • Mogollon culture develops in New Mexico.

    • ca. AD 500

  • Bows and arrows appear south of Arctic.

    • ca. AD 500–1400

  • Hohokam culture develops in Arizona.

    • ca. AD 800–1500

  • Mississippian culture flourishes in Southeast.

    • ca. AD 1000–1200

  • Anasazi peoples build cliff dwellings and pueblos.

    • ca. AD 1325–1500

  • Mexica establish Mexican empire.

    • AD 1492

  • Christopher Columbus arrives in New World.